diff --git a/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90 b/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
index 9dc38094e6..ab310650c8 100644
--- a/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
+++ b/src/biogeophys/TemperatureType.F90
@@ -741,11 +741,7 @@ subroutine InitCold(this, bounds, &
                   end if
                end if
             else
-               if (use_fates) then
-                  this%t_soisno_col(c,1:nlevgrnd) = 274._r8
-               else
-                  this%t_soisno_col(c,1:nlevgrnd) = 272._r8
-               end if
+               this%t_soisno_col(c,1:nlevgrnd) = 272._r8
                if (use_excess_ice .and. (lun%itype(l) == istsoil .or. lun%itype(l) == istcrop)) then
                   this%t_soisno_col(c,1:nlevgrnd) = SHR_CONST_TKFRZ - 5.0_r8 !needs to be below freezing to properly initiate excess ice
                end if